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Copper nanowires have been synthesized at different pH values through the template assisted electrodeposition technique using polycarbonate track-etch membranes as scaffolds. The effect of pH (0.8-2.8) of the electrolyte on structure, morphology, composition and deposition rate of copper into the pores of the template, while keeping other electrochemical conditions same, was investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the face centered cubic phase of synthesized nanowires. With the change in pH, no shift in peaks was observed except the inclusion of an additional peak of copper oxide in nanowires synthesized at pH 2.8. The nanocrystallite size, strain, lattice stress and energy density were evaluated by X-ray analysis. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images revealed that nanowires obtained at pH 0.8, 1.1 and 1.4 showed incomplete deposition in the pores of the membrane whereas, the nanowires obtained at pH 1.7 were densely stacked, vertically aligned and uniform along the diameter and that obtained from pH 2.0-2.8 had overdeposition on their top. An increase in deposition rate was observed with the increase in pH value. The average diameter of Cu nanowires was found to be ~ 105 nm. The electrical conductivity of as-grown nanowires was observed to decrease 13-fold as the transition from bulk values to the nanosystem. Nanowires prepared at pH of 1.7 were characterized for their field-emission properties. A very large field-enhancement factor of ~ 10,855 was obtained indicating that Cu nanowires grown by reported technique shows outstanding potential as efficient field-emitters for flat panel displays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of metal oxide nanoparticles with plants has not been extensively studied. An attempt has been made to examine the potential variation in peanut plant leaves due to the application of Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticle by pre-sowing technique and to compare with its bulk counterpart. Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticle was synthesized by chemical route and characterized using X-ray diffraction, atomic force and scanning electron microscopy. The Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticle and its bulk counterpart are applied to the peanut seeds by pre-soaking method at two different concentrations: 500 and 4000 ppm. A total of three replicates were chosen for each morphological and physiological measurement (at an average of three plants per replica). The Fourier transform infrared spectral analysis shows the most prominent peaks at 2923 and 1636 cm −1 , and other peaks vary due to Fe 2 O 3 stress, which was confirmed by the calculated mean ratio of the peak intensities for various frequency regions. All leaf samples show considerable increase in glycoprotein, with 500 ppm bulk and 4000 ppm nano-Fe 2 O 3 samples exhibiting a maximum increase of 73.86% and 71.45%, respectively. The total amide I and II protein content of leaf sample soaked in 500 ppm bulk Fe 2 O 3 suspension decreased to a greater extent compared with other leaf samples. The leaf samples soaked in 500 ppm concentration of both bulk and nano-Fe 2 O 3 suspension exhibited lower lipid content with total band area of 76.97 ± 0.832 and 76.31 ± 0.468, respectively. The cumulative percentage of explained variance in secondary structure of protein of all leaf samples is 83.888% in which factor 1 accounts for 51.870% and factor 2 accounts for 32.018% of the total data variance. The principal component (PC) loadings plot for the spectral range 1600–1700 cm −1 clearly shows that the PC1 factor might establish the maximum variation of the secondary structure of protein in leaf samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-component CaF 2 −ZnO–Bi 2 O 3 −P 2 O 5 glasses doped with different concentrations of CoO (ranging from 0 to 1.0 mol %) were crystallized by heat treatment. These samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), EDS and differential thermal analysis (DTA) techniques. The XRD patterns have indicated the presence of various phases viz., Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 , Bi 3 PO 7 , CaZn 2 (PO 4 ) 2 , Bi(PO 4 ), Zn 3 (PO 4 ) 2 , ZnCo(P 2 O 7 ), CaCoP 2 O 7 , ZnCo 2 O 4 , CoF 2 , Co 3 O 4 and CoF 3 . Conventional spectroscopic studies such as optical absorption, FTIR and Raman were also carried out on these glass ceramic samples. The analysis of these results has indicated that cobalt ions exist in both Co 2+ and Co 3+ states in the glass ceramic network. These studies have further revealed that the rigidity of the glass ceramic network decreases up to 0.6 mol% of CoO. Beyond this concentration the insulating strength of the prepared samples is found to increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]